Chapter 21- Nick, Wednesday

I can’t help thinking it’s a bad idea to wake up with an 18 year old work colleague beside you. Especially as I’ve got to get into work and he’s got to get into college. What were we thinking? Well, clearly we weren’t thinking, which is just as well otherwise we’d have never got this far. Why did we have to do it on day when neither of us could linger in bed though?

It all started in the cinema. I’d texted Brenda to see if she fancied going to a film or something, and she immediately said yes. Apparently she’d had a shitty day at work and was likely to go home and drink herself happy. Blimey, when did we all become so dependent on alcohol to make our bad days better? And she said she’d text the Bens too, as they were always fun to be around. I’m sure she has ulterior motives on the front, but she’s right, they are fun.
So 8 o’clock comes and we’re all on the steps of the local cinema wondering what to see. The choice is limited - an action thing, a slightly girly drama, or something animated. Turns out the Bens had seen the animated thing, and Brenda had seen the girly film (and got really annoyed by it), so off we went to see the action film. It was your bog standard action film really - lots of running through the streets, car chases and posturing. The hero turned out to be slightly flawed, but at the end he was redeemed. Oh good. But it was pacey and loud, and you couldn’t really call it boring - just predictable.
I was sat there watching it, and my mind had started to wander. My interest in car chases is limited, so by the time the third one started I was flagging a bit. I wasn’t the only one. I felt something touch my leg, which made me jump a little. When I looked down it was Big Ben’s hand, casually laying there stroking my thigh. Blimey, he must be hating the film as well. Thankfully Brenda was between me and the other Ben (why don’t we call him Little Ben I wonder?), so he was unlikely to see anything, especially in the dark. When we’d sat down he’d started talking very intently to Brenda, so Big Ben and I had naturally started talking to each other - chatting about our days, and gossiping a little about work between mouthful’s of popcorn.
And now he very definitely had his hand on my thigh, and it has to be said I rather liked it there. I casually moved my hand over the arm of the chair and placed it where his thigh ought to be, only to find he was slumped in his seat and I’d unexpectedly had a feel of his crotch. A little shuffling later and we were happily holding hands for the rest of the film. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.

When the film finished I hastily retrieved my hand, rearranged my clothing and traipsed out after the others. None of us were ready to go home, although all for very different reasons. But we were all aware that we had to get up in the morning so couldn’t afford to make it a late one. Luckily there was a coffee shop over the road that stayed open late so cinema goers had somewhere to chat about what they’d just seen. We all ordered hot chocolate and cake, and grabbed a table in the window. We were agreed that the film had been likeable nonsense. Implausible but harmless. Fun. I made a point of sitting next to Ben and chatting to him about what films he liked, leaving Brenda and Big Ben to gossip. Of course both Ben and I were eavesdropping on what they were saying, and I guess we were both disappointed to here Big Ben talking about some of his previous shags. For an eighteen year old he’d not been wasting much time! It’s taken me years to accumulate a similar amount as he already had, which somehow made me sad for both of us.
We finished our drinks, picked the crumbs of our plates and generally weren’t terribly keen to leave. I was particularly intrigued to see where the evening was going - the hand thing hadn’t been like the snog - that was drunken, this was most definitely sober. But how was I ever going to get him on his own to ask him about it? Or even should I? Perhaps that’s just what he did with his friends? I didn’t want to come on all mad - I’d done that enough times in the past to know it wasn’t a smart idea.
Eventually Brenda made the decision to go - she had the furthest to travel and she certainly looked knackered, bless her. The Bens would be heading in the same direction, so we wandered towards the bus stop. I could walk home, and although it was late and a bit far it was also a really nice night and I could do with the time to think. So we stood chatting at the bus stop, grumbling as all the wrong numbers went past, then practically cheering when the right one came round the corner. I was just saying ‘good-bye’ when Big Ben realised he’d left his phone in the café. I think Ben was about to offer to stay but Big Ben told him he’d catch up with him at college the next day, so he got on the bus with that disappointed look that seems to be constantly on his face lately.
“We better rush or they’ll be shut and you’ll never get it back”
“No need, I didn’t leave it behind at all”
“Well if you run you can catch up with the bus at the next stop, it might be ages before the next one comes along.”
“I don’t want to catch the bus, I want to go home with you.”
Bloody hell. I like a man who knows what he wants, but this took me by surprise.
“Hmm, blimey, I….”
Articulate aren’t I.
“You shouldn’t be surprised, I’ve had my eye on you for ages.”
But of course I was. I started having those, ‘he’s not in my league’ type thoughts, then realised I wasn’t such a bad catch myself and thought, ‘why not?’.
“But what about Ben? He’s mad about you, you know?”
“Yeah, but he knows it’s never gonna happen, I’ve told him often enough.”
Hmm, doesn’t necessarily make it right though does it? But at this point I wanted something to happen between us, so I’m afraid I rather overlooked Ben’s feelings.
“So, we heading back to yours or just gonna stand chatting in the street all night?”
He said it with a cheeky grin on his face, but there was a real eagerness in his voice, and a slight vulnerability about him - he seemed confident, but deep down he wasn’t sure I was going to say yes. Just as well I was.
“Come on then, I’ll race you home.”

It took longer than expected to get back to mine - we’d not gone far before Ben stopped. I thought he’d changed his mind, but when I turned to ask him what was the matter he just grabbed me, pushed me against the wall and snogged me. He’d have had a hand down my trousers if I hadn’t stopped him. Not that I wanted to, but sex in the street didn’t seem like the smartest idea, although it certainly sounded like fun!
We finally got back to mine, and never even made it into the bedroom - clothes were shed pretty quickly, and strewn all over the living room floor. Shoes were awkwardly removed, whilst trying not to stop kissing, and we ended up collapsed in an untidy heap on the sofa. I couldn’t help feeling amazed that we’d got here at all, and that he was clearly enjoying it as much as I was.

Of course it turned into a late night. I’ve no idea what time we went to sleep, but I was a bit disappointed when it turned out he’s one of those people who sleeps with their back to you, not touching you at all - I wanted to fall asleep wrapped around him, otherwise what’s the point of having someone in bed with you?

The alarm went off at seven, which seemed stupidly early, although it only gave us and hour and a half to get to work and college. I prodded Ben awake, resisting the urge to lie there looking at him - I swear there’s a stalker in me somewhere! He rubbed his eyes, stretched a bit, the turned towards me, eyes still shut, duvet pulled up to his chin.
“Wakey wakey sleepy head”
“Morning gorgeous”
Hmm, that’s the ideal way to start the day.
“you sleep okay”
“Mmm, not enough. You fancy staying here all day?”
God, what a tempting offer.
“Oh mate, there’s nothing I’d love more! But I’ve got work and you’ve got college”
“Pity, I had a better plan for the day.”
“Well we’ve got a little longer, come here and give me a cuddle.”
God I love the feeling of a warm body in the bed with me. It’s a great start to the day. He smelt all sweet and clean. I could have spent all day just curled up with him, but I made do with twenty minutes, enjoying his warmth pressed against mine, and the sound of his breathing. But then it really was getting late, so I stroked his face to persuade him to open his eyes.
“Come on mate, time to get up”
He grinned sleepily, stretched again, then got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I just lay there thinking what an idiot I was to let such a fantastic arse get out of my bed just so I could go to work. So I came to my senses and followed him into the shower….